PennDOT Crews Preparing For Latest Winter Weather Battle

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The latest round of winter weather moved into the area overnight and road crews are already preparing.

PennDOT and local municipality crews are already out pretreating the roads and keeping their eyes open for slick spots.

Pittsburgh has declared a Phase 1 Snow Emergency, which means they are getting their equipment and crews ready for 12-hour shifts.

“We know that it’s the Christmas season, the holiday season and everybody’s busy, but give yourself a little bit of extra time. On the overpasses and on the bridges, be careful because those are the things that freeze first,” PennDOT Allegheny County Manager Angelo Pampena said.

Plow and salt crews and those responsible for keeping the road clear don’t have the luxury of waiting for anything.

“We filled all the brine tanks up on all of our trucks, all of our trucks are ready to go. They’re fueled up,” Pampena said. “And when you see our trucks out, try to give us a little bit of room so we can spread the material ahead of your vehicle,”

PennDOT’s been treating the roads since last night in anticipation of potential problems.

Now that the snow has started falling, some people are flocking to get new tires put on their vehicles.

“We’re overdue for it with last year being the way it was. This year, we need it. Bad winter is definitely better for us,” Gary Schemm from Ronnie’s Tires said.

People were lined up before Ronnie’s Tires on Route 51 even opened Friday morning.

“Happens every year. When the first snowfall flies, the line starts,” Schemm said. “People wait until they can’t go any further or they wait until the threat of snow. Nobody does it early.”